كأَن البَحْرَ مَيْدانٌ وفيه

كأَن البَحْرَ مَيْدانٌ وفيه

من السُّفْن الَّتي تجري خيولُ

من السُّفْن الَّتي تجري خيولُ

As though the sea were an arena, and within it

As though the sea's a race-course, where the ships -

the sailing ships were horses.

swift coursers - speed, outpacing one another,

يطارد بعضُها بعضاً وليست

يطارد بعضُها بعضاً وليست

تَكِلُّ ولا لَهَا عَرَقٌ يَسيلُ

تَكِلُّ ولا لَهَا عَرَقٌ يَسيلُ

They chase one another, and do not

Nor ever sweating, even in the hottest noon,

grow weary, nor does sweat flow from them.

Nor are their sinews slackened, nor muscles weakened.